Finding suitable role players and building a serviceable bench unit became one of the New York Knicks' most important goals this offseason, and the storied franchise accomplished their mission.
New York added a solid backup frontcourt piece in Guerschon Yabusele and one of the league's most renowned reserve scorers and 2021 Sixth Man of the Year winner Jordan Clarkson in free agency. However, a recent training camp signing has complicated things prior to the beginning of the 2025-25 campaign.
The Knicks followed up their successful free agency period by acquiring a crucial impact player and 2023 Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon on Tuesday, making several prospects expendable.
As a result, one NBA writer recently suggested that the Knicks could now be one step closer to pulling the trigger on a deal to part ways with their former No. 25 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Pacôme Dadiet.
"The Knicks are weighing trade options that would allow them to sign both Landry Shamet and Malcolm Brogdon to the final roster," FanSided's Atticus O'Brien-Pappalardo wrote Thursday.
"Moving on from former first-round pick Pacôme Dadiet would create enough space to sign both the veterans, but it would slash into the Knicks' wing depth, which is already weak as is."
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"It makes sense to trade an unproven player in order to have enough space to add two proven players."
"The Knicks are also light on draft capital, after shelling out five first-round picks to acquire Mikal Bridges last season. If they can make a win-now move, adding both Shamet and Brogdon, while also netting a first-round pick, it makes sense, in theory."
While it would further diminish their lacking depth at the forward positions, moving on from Dadiet might be the right decision.
The 20-year-old French product only appeared in 18 games for New York throughout his rookie campaign, though he did show a semblance of promise with their G-League affiliate Westchester Knicks in 2024-25.
In 14 contests and eight starts with Westchester, Dadiet was able to contribute 14.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists on a respectable 60.0% true shooting percentage.
Unfortunately for Dadiet, the Knicks are entering a pivotal Finals-or-bust season and the addition of Brogdon serves as a likely signal that a transaction is coming sooner rather than later.
If anything, this could be Dadiet's chance to land on a rebuilding squad and gain more responsibility within a new rotation.
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